LS Weekly Memo
Week 8: September 29-October 3, 2014
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Thank you for all your support of Spirit Week and Homecoming. While there was much joy and cheer throughout the week, I also know the excitement was hard for some to manage. In the future, if Homecoming is in September, Lower School will only celebrate Spirit Day.
Now we can settle in to a good stretch of school.
COMMUNITY
Picture Day Monday
If your class did not get photographs taken due to the weather cancellation, you will be assigned a time to come tomorrow. Look for Jenny’s email first thing tomorrow. Holland Studio said they would get these photos to families asap so they can decide whether or not they want retakes coming up on Thursday, October 9th.
Student Issues
Part of our effort to partner with parents includes reaching out to them when issues arise. Specialists, be sure to check in with classroom teachers before contacting parents, as they often have a broader understanding of the child. Then teachers can decide who to best make the call.
If there is a significant physical issue - Elaine or Lower School Office will call.
Student Safety
As students feel more comfortable at school, often new issues arise. If a student’s behavior is unsafe for the student or others, Chris or David need to know about it
OES Fund - October 1 deadline
Our theme this year is:
- Every student. Every day. (All students benefit from the OES Fund.)
- Goal: 100% participation by faculty by September 30.
As we are looking for the community to donate $16.5 million for the new Lower School building, it is an important year for Lower School to be at 100% participation. Please donate.
Note from Natasha:
Thank you so much for those of you who have participated! You are so appreciated! There is still time left for those who have not yet done it. Please just know it is your participation and showing support to the school, not the amount, that makes a difference. When fundraising, the school likes to show the donors that the faculty supports the direction we are heading through 100% participation. Please fill out the form in the LS office or go to the link (that’s the easiest) and make your pledge today! The link is at LINK TO 2014-2015 Staff Payroll Deduction Form
Spirit Week and Homecoming
Thanks to all for weathering the excitement of Spirit Week and Friday’s Homecoming Pep Rally. Kudos to all who expressed their spirit in some type of service project. I noticed that there was a lot of litter around the track after the big Homecoming event. You might want to grab gloves and trash bags next week, and collect trash. Team Leaders will reflect on the events of the past week at our meeting on Monday, consider ways to support Spirit Week and Homecoming for next year.
Upper School Helpers
They are available ONLY at these specific times:
Every Wednesday, 10:20-10:50, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 24 (note that this is only half an hour & adjust your expectations accordingly!)
Every Thurday, 10:50-11:50, beginning THIS Thursday, Sept 18
If you can use student help during those hours, please email me at least a day ahead of time, and give the location, the job description, and the number of students needed.
Robin Schauffler, schaufflerr@oes.edu
US Service-Learning Coordinator
Parent Partnership Coffees 2014-2015
We have three coffees this week and two more in the coming two weeks. Thanks to all who helped plan our coffees.
Competitive Games on the Playground - Helpful hints
- Teams need to be fair and with equal numbers of student on each team
- Both teams need to agree the teams are fair before they can start playing
- We do not play grade vs. grade or Girls vs. Boys
Students to Watch on the Playground
There are three students we are supporting closely right now, and would love to have all folks on duty keep a special eye on them.
JB in Doug’s First Grade- Can be physical, some teasing, pretend play that is over the top
BK in Jackie’s Second Grade- New student, highly competitive soccer player, gets embarrassed and angry when called on unnecessary roughness. PE team will help supervise games on the field.
PG in Tina’s Fifth Grade- Can get physical, unaware of personal boundaries, can go to extremes when teased or in chase games that go ary.
It will be important to document any issues in an incident report. We are working closely with these students’ families. See their photo in PCR if you don’t know what they look like.
Classroom Agreements
As you finalize your classroom agreements be sure to post them on your website. Parents appreciate knowing the language you are using with their children.
PROGRAM
PGD Opportuntities
NWAIS - NAVIGATING GENDER IDENTITY, EXPRESSION AND VARIANCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: FROM DRESS-UP TO THE MONKEY BARS
- Catin Gabel - Delivering Cultural Competency in Curriculum and Program
Saturday, November 8, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m, Catlin Gabel School
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Meetings this Week
- FLG Meeting - Monday, 9/29/14
- Team and Department Meetings - Thursday, 10/2/14
- Student Support Team - Thursday, 10/2/14 @10:50 and 3:10
Common Experience Around Classroom Design Last Week
Our thanks to Carole, Tonya, Janet, Erin, Alysa and others for opening their classrooms last Thursday for our Ghost Visit. It was inspiring! As you look for ways to design classroom environments that support inquiry, let David or Chris know if you are considering furniture options. We need to plan ahead for next year’s budget, and design a long-term furniture replacement system that is equitable and smart.
Team Leader Notes
- Discussed faculty meeting
- Design Team work
Sending Students to the Library
Friendly reminder: out of respect to our scheduled library classes, please consult the Library schedule before sending large groups down to the Library. Heidi can assist 1-2 students briefly, but larger groups distract our classes. We are happy to be of assistance during open library times. Thank you!
Classroom Dimensions
Tracy worked with the 5th grade to lay out the classroom dimensions for PK – P classrooms and 1st – 5th classrooms in the LSCH. Take a look and imagine what is possible with that space.
Essential Competencies Posters
We have a few EC posters in the Faculty Lounge. Help yourself. If you have the original light green version please replace.
Changes to the Chapel/Assembly Schedule
There have been a few changes to the Chapel and Assembly schedule for the fall. The online calendars now list the correct information. The new events are as follows. Please correct your planning calendars. Thank you!
October 17--LS Chapel: 2nd-5th Grade
November 14--LS Chapel: 2nd-5th Grade
November 21--BS and LS Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Assembly, 8:10-8:40
OPERATIONS
Students Need to Be On Time for Dismissal
We noticed this week that older LS siblings arrived later than they should (3:00-3:05) which clogs up the Pre-K and K Loop Road pick up area with cars waiting for older siblings.
Please get your children out the door either a little before 2:50 or at 2:50.
Late Start Thursday Reminders
Please be sure to include Late Start Thursday reminders in your next newsletter or communication to parents. There seemed to be a lot of confusion last week.
Thursday Morning Schedule
Beginning School Students
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1st and 2nd Grade Students
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3rd – 5th Grade Students
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7:30 – Choice Time in LS Common Hall
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7:30 – Academic Choice in 1/2 Wing
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Quiet Reading in LS Library
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7:30 – Study Hall in 4/5 Wing
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Quiet Reading in LS Library
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8:10 – Outdoor Recess Option
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8:15 – Outdoor Recess
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8:15 – Outdoor Recess
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8:45 – School Begins
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8:45 – School Begins
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8:45 – School Begins
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The two front doors and the back library door will be locked after students go out for recess. The library will not be open from 8:15-8:45.
Field Trip Guidelines Please read!
There are two documents to review: a field trip check list and medical field trip info. Please be sure to post your dates on the Faculty Events Google Calendar and Anne Weston’s calendar (without the destination).
OES Book Sale - Wish List
The book fair is taking place off campus this year at Annie Bloom’s Books in Multnomah Village. We are asking each grade level teaching team and LS Specialists to generate wish lists for their respective classes. LS parents will have the opportunity to gift these books to each classroom. The Book Fair Committee would love to make this process as easy and painless as possible! With this in mind, it would be great if each grade level teaching team would designate one contact person to communicate your wish list to the committee.
A member of the Book Fair Committee will be contacting you to learn the name of the point person you have selected. Your designated point person will then submit the Wish List to their committee liaison in whatever form is most convenient - an email, a wish list created at Amazon.com or Powell's.com, a handwritten list...we simply need the title and author.
If you have questions or ideas, please direct them to Margueritte Kim at kimfamilypdx@mac.com.
BS Food Service
A couple of parents expressed concern about our new policy of having children eat, or at least try our hot entree, before offering sandwiches and other items. One parent said that her child is eating only salad, and is ravenous by the time she reaches home. If you have a child who is having a very hard time eating entrees and is picky about the other offerings, please let Chris know. She will work with you, the family and food service folks to find nutritious alternatives.
- Please encourage students to try the hot entree before offering sandwiches
- Sandwich making materials will be available daily - one or more of the following: cheese, turkey , ham or soy butter
- Encourage students to eat what they take, waste less food
- Jason will try to come down most Wednesdays to talk with students, teachers and parents about healthy eating and good choices. He is open to feedback.
- If you are interested in getting a tour of the kitchen and gardens, let Kelly know. They love the opportunity to share their good work.
- They are also open to having farmers who serve Bon Appetit visit classes/grades to talk about farming and good eating.
Your Announcements
Send any announcements you have for faculty to Chris or me by Thursday each week and we will include them in the Weekly memo. This should help reduce the number of emails we are receiving, and to maximize our time to collaborate during meetings.
